Obama admin seeks pause in new Iran sanctions push

The Obama administration is asking Congress to hold off on enacting new sanctions against Iran. It says a pause in the push to impose new penalties would give negotiators flexibility in talks now underway to get Iran to comply with demands it prove its nuclear program

is peaceful.

The State Department said Friday that the administration has asked lawmakers to wait on new sanctions legislation in order to give the negotiations time to get traction. Spokeswoman Jen Psaki said additional sanctions can always be imposed later if the Iranians fail to meet their obligations. She stressed that no existing sanctions are being lifted. (AP)